[CAUT] Caut Certification

[Sloane, Benjamin (sloaneba)]

     Hello Jeff,
   Concerning the leverage thing, you are dead on. Excellent advice for the aspiring CAUT tech. If only Eric would admit how much he advanced his position by applying at Oberlin to gain leverage!
      - Ben
________________________________________
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Tanner [tannertuner at bellsouth.net]
Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 3:28 PM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Caut Certification

----- Original Message -----
From: Joe Goss
To: caut at ptg.org    
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 12:24 AM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Caut Certification

Hi It would be a bargaining chip the bean counters could better relate to. The more letters after your name the smarter you are supposed to be Taint so but-------
Joe Goss BSMusEd MMusEd RPT
imatunr at srvinet.com
www.mothergoosetools.com<http://www.mothergoosetools.com>

Hi Joe, all,

With the highest respect due...

I think this is the misconception that the CAUT endorsement is based on.  Unfortunately, it isn't based in reality.  The Human Resources job classification system doesn't allow for it to be.

The unfortunate reality is that there is no way for HR to recognize any difference between a candidate endorsed by PTG and one who just read a few books and started tuning last week.  The salary band is the same for both, and it is too low for both.  What the CAUT committee is trying to "create" is something the search committees already expect we are supposed to live up to, and they still think so little of us that they are still offering full time positions at $40K for a high level concert tech and thinking that is a great salary for a non-tenure track position, while techs tuning spinets and old uprights can make six figures.

Job descriptions are one thing.  Job classifications are another thing all together.  One can write a job description for a piano technician that outshines the presidency of the United States.  But if there isn't an existing job classification that will adequately accommodate it, you are unfortunately stuck with overqualified people in a job class that is below their qualifications.  That is where we are - ALREADY.  You can't put a job description for a janitor, no matter how well written, into a job class for medical doctors.

The CAUT endorsement is a wonderful concept for self-improvement.  In that regard I have no opposition to the idea.  But it will have zero effect on the salary situation of full time piano technicians, short or long term.  The reality is that an RPT (or equivalent, and yes, it exists) with the right attitude can develop all the skills necessary for a CAUT job in the first 6 months on the job.  I was scared to death when I took the South Carolina job, but within 6 months I had developed a confidence level in my skills I'd not had in the 14 years prior.  But by that point, the faculty had absolutely no concern as to whether or not I was an RPT (and I wasn't at the time).  They just knew they liked my work.

The only thing that will ever affect the salary situation is leverage.  And the other faculty members will tell you the same thing.  The way they get pay increases is by applying for other positions that pay more and going back to their deans and saying "look, match this salary offer or I'm leaving." We can't really do that because that really doesn't exist for us.  The only alternative is self-employment, and you can't show them a salary offer for that.  You have to threaten to quit and be prepared when they call your bluff.  I quit my position after working hard for almost 10 years to prove my worth.  AFTER I quit, they did what I had been asking for for years: Reclassified the salary to a higher band, increased STARTING pay for the next incumbent 15% more than my final salary and reduced responsibility to 1/3 of what I had been responsible for.  And the guy they hired has never been a PTG member.

That's how you make improvements to the situation.  Leverage.  More education and training might make you a little better tech.  But it won't help your salary.  Jim, your $2K per tech idea is right on the money -- but it won't be because of a CAUT endorsement.  It will be because techs start insisting on higher salaries.  Let me say it plainly -- THEY ARE NOT GOING TO OFFER YOU MORE MONEY BECAUSE YOU'VE EARNED YET ONE MORE PIECE OF PAPER SAYING THE PTG ENDORSES YOUR WORK.  THEY WILL OFFER YOU MORE MONEY ONLY IF YOU INSIST ON IT.

Fred Sturm wrote (about tuning):
Determining "what matters and what doesn't matter" is a fundamental
part of becoming a skilled professional.  If we spend a lot of our
energy pursuing perfections beyond "what matters" and in realms that
"don't matter," we are wasting that energy. Goodness knows, there is
always more to do than there is time to do it. We need to focus on
"what matters."

Wow! Fred, I couldn't agree more.  This profound concept might be the fundamental concept of professionalism.  It certainly also applies to improving the circumstances for salaried college piano technicians.

Jeff Tanner